31 Japanese sportsperson politicians

Jiro Akama is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet. He is the Senior Vice Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications. A native of Sagamihara, Kanagawa, he graduated from Rikkyo University and received his master's degree in economic sociology from the University of Manchester. He was elected to the first of his two terms in the assembly of Kanagawa Prefecture in 1999 and then to the House of Representatives for the first time in 2005.

Kentaro Asahi is a Japanese professional beach volleyball player and politician. He was born in Kumamoto, Kumamoto Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan.

Tarō Asō is a Japanese politician serving as the Vice President of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) since 2021. Asō previously served as Prime Minister of Japan from 2008 to 2009 and as Deputy Prime Minister of Japan and Minister of Finance from 2012 to 2021. He was the longest-serving Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance in Japanese history, having previously served as Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2005 to 2007 and as Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications from 2003 to 2005.

Takenori Emoto is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball. He played for the Toei Flyers in 1971, the Nankai Hawks from 1972 to 1975, and the Hanshin Tigers from 1976 to 1981.

Hiroshi Hase is a Japanese politician who served as the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology under Prime Minister Shinzō Abe. Prior to his appointment in the Cabinet, he also served as a member of the House of Representatives of the National Diet, representing the 1st district of Ishikawa Prefecture.

Seiko Hashimoto is a Japanese politician, former speed skater and track cyclist. She has the most Olympic appearances of any Japanese athlete except Noriaki Kasai, representing her native country in four consecutive Winter Olympics from 1984 to 1994 and in three consecutive Summer Olympics from 1988 to 1996. She is currently a member of the House of Councillors from the Liberal Democratic Party, and serves as the President of the Japan Skating Federation.

Ichiro Hatta was a Japanese judoka and wrestler. He was instrumental in founding the Japanese Amateur Wrestling Association and bringing the 1964 Olympics to Japan.

Ryuji Hijikata is a Japanese professional wrestler. Hijikata is best known for his tenure in Battlarts and All Japan Pro Wrestling since 2002 where he is a former World Junior Heavyweight Champion.

Ryōzō Hiranuma was the 5th President of the Japanese Olympic Committee (1945–1946).

Manabu Horii is a Japanese politician and former speed skater. He won an Olympic bronze medal in 1994, and also competed in the 1998 and 2002 Olympics. He ended his speed skating career in 2002.

Tsuneo Horiuchi is a former professional baseball player in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball, and a politician. A right-handed pitcher, in 2008 he was voted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame.

Muhammad Hussain Inoki is a Japanese retired professional wrestler, martial artist, politician, and promoter of professional wrestling and mixed martial arts. He is best known by the ring name Antonio Inoki , a homage to fellow professional wrestler Antonino Rocca. Inoki is a twelve-time professional wrestling world champion, notably being the first IWGP Heavyweight Champion and the first Asian WWF Heavyweight Champion – a reign not officially recognized by WWE.

Kunishige Kamamoto is a former Japanese football player, manager and politician. He won the bronze medal with the Japan national team at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, finishing as the tournament's top scorer with seven goals, and is the all-time leading goalscorer for Japan. He served as a member of the House of Councillors between 1995 and 2001.

Yoshitami Kameoka is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet. A native of Tochigi Prefecture and graduate of Waseda University, he was elected for the first time in 2005 after unsuccessful runs in 2000 and 2003.

Shinobu Kandori is a retired Japanese wrestler and politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet. A native of Yokohama, Kanagawa, she ran unsuccessfully for House of Councillors in 2004 but was allowed to join the house in 2006 when Heizo Takenaka, a member of the house, resigned.

Seiei Kimura is a Japanese retired professional wrestler, best known under the ring name Kengo Kimura and for his many years working for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) in Japan.

Kenshiro Matsunami is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet. A native of Izumisano, Osaka, he attended Nippon Sport Science University, Eastern Michigan University and Nihon University. He was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 1996 as a member of the New Frontier Party. After losing his seat in 2003, he was re-elected in 2005.

Junko Mihara is a Japanese politician, and was formerly a singer, actress, and racing driver. She is a member of the Liberal Democratic Party.

Minanogawa Tōzō , also known as Asashio Kyojiro , was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Tsukuba, Ibaraki. He was the sport's 34th yokozuna.

Kiyoshi Nakahata is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball player. He played for the Yomiuri Giants (1976–1989).

Osamu Nishimura is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working as a freelancer. Nishimura formerly worked for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and MUGA World Pro Wrestling (MUGA).

Katsuo Okazaki was a Japanese sportsman, diplomat and political figure. He served as the Japanese foreign minister in the 1950s. He was also the final – and only Japanese – chairman of the Shanghai Municipal Council.

Atsushi Onita is a Japanese actor, politician, and semi-retired professional wrestler. He is best known for his work in Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (FMW) and is credited with introducing Japan to the deathmatch style of professional wrestling.

Kiyoko Ono was a Japanese politician and gymnast. She competed at the 1960 and 1964 Olympics and won a team bronze medal in 1964.

Masanori Murakawa ,, is a Japanese professional wrestler, promoter and politician, currently wrestling for Michinoku Pro Wrestling (MPW) under the ring name The Great Sasuke . Aside from professional wrestling, he is also a former Iwate Prefectural Assembly legislator. He has wrestled in Japan and in the United States in various professional wrestling promotions. He is said to have an incredible tolerance for pain, mainly in reference to the injuries he has had including a cracked skull on two occasions.

Genki Sudo is a singer, dancer, MMA fighter, and Japanese politician who serves as a member of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan in the House of Councillors since 2019. Between 1999 and 2006, Sudo was a professional athlete and then was in the entertainment industry from 2006 to 2019. He has since returned to his previous position in World Order as of the 11th of September 2021 where he is currently active.

Hiroto Wakita is a Japanese professional wrestler who currently runs Kaisen Puroresu and is also working as a wrestler there. He is better known by his stage name Super Delfin .

Daichi Suzuki is a retired Japanese backstroke swimmer. He won a gold medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.

Nobuhiko Takada is a Japanese former mixed martial artist, retired professional wrestler, actor, and writer. He competed in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), Universal Wrestling Federation (UWF) and the Union of Wrestling Forces International (UWFI) in the 1980s and 1990s, becoming one of the highest figures of the "shoot-style" movement.

Kenjiro Tamiya was a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball player and manager. In his first few years as a major league player, Tamiya was utilized as a pitcher and first baseman, but in the prime of his career, he was an outfielder. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002.

Sakon Yamamoto is a Japanese racing driver. He competed in 21 Formula One Grands Prix during the 2006, 2007 and 2010 seasons.